Labour 'dealing with' split rumour issues

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said the Labour Party is "dealing with" any issues that might cause a split.

Rumours continue to circulate that some MPs are close to resigning the whip.

But Mr McDonnell insisted the party was "holding together on Brexit" and would be "ruthless" on claims of anti-Semitism that have dogged Labour.

On Sunday, a former Labour vice-chairman said he intended to leave the party over what he saw as a repeated failure to tackle hostility to Jews.

Former Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher, who stood down at the last election, told the Sun: "I can no longer justify paying subs to a party which I now regard as institutionally anti-Semitic."

• Labour unity call amid split rumours

• Could Brexit cause a Labour split?

• Shadow cabinet clash over anti-Semitism

Last week, some MPs criticised the party leadership's Brexit stance.

Treasury spokesman Clive Lewis warned of "severe" ramifications if the party was seen to facilitate a "Tory Brexit", while ex-shadow chancellor Chris Leslie said it was "heartbreaking" Labour was not united in arguing against leaving the EU.

On Sunday, Labour members on social media began circulating a graphic reading: "I pledge to work for the achievement of a Labour-led government, under whatever leadership members elect.

"And I accept a Labour-led government is infinitely better than any other outcome."

Mr McDonnell told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show he had signed the pledge, arguing it reflected what he had said throughout his membership - even when he had his "strongest disagreements" with Tony Blair.

'People wanted reassurance'

When put to him that the timing was "just a little bit provocative", he replied: "No, not at all.

"People wanted reassurance from all of us that we're Labour through and through, and - even some of those names that have been mentioned about thinking about leaving the party - I think they're Labour through and through as well."

However, Edinburgh South MP Ian Murray said he would not sign the "unnecessary" pledge, adding that his loyalty to the party "should never be in question".

"These kind of pledge things are a little bit ridiculous," he told the BBC.

On Friday, Mr Murray said MPs were "being pushed to the brink" with both the party's Brexit stance and its handling of anti-Semitism claims.

However, Mr McDonnell, in answering suggestions that you could "hear the creaking of a coming split" in the party, said: "I really don't see why there's a need to.

"Those saying we'll split if we don't get a 'People's Vote' [another referendum on the final Brexit deal] - well, we've still kept that option on the table and it might come about."

Mr McDonnell said the effect would be similar to the SDP breakaway in 1981 which split Labour's vote, cost it seats and "installed Mrs Thatcher in power for a decade".

"I don't think any of the people who've even been mentioned about this split would want that," he said.

Mr McDonnell accepted Labour had not acted "fast enough" on claims of anti-Semitism but said it had doubled the staff dealing with the issue and brought in a senior lawyer.

"Where it's intolerable, where it's repeated... not only should we kick them out of the party, there should be life bans as well," he said.

"We've got to be ruthless about this."